Florida International University

Like this school?

Quick Stats
University Park

Miami, FL 33199

[map]
Phone: (305) 348-2000
2010-2011 Tuition
$4,431
in-state
$16,830
out-of-state
Students
33,786
enrolled
45%
male /
55%
female
Admissions
May 1
application deadline
39.5%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
Rank Not Published National Universities

More About U.S. News Rankings

Summary

Florida International University is a public institution that was founded in 1965. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,786, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 344 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Florida International University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, Tier 2. Its in-state tuition and fees are $4,431 (2010-11); out-of-state tuition and fees are $16,830 (2010-11).

Miami’s Florida International University has two main campuses: the Modesto A. Maidique Campus in Miami-Dade County and the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami. About 60 percent of students who attend the university are Hispanic, making the school one of the top granters of bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic undergraduates.

Outside of class, there are many student organizations and more than 30 fraternities and sororities to consider joining, as well as annual campus events, such as the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, to check out. The FIU Golden Panthers sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference.

Graduate students can enroll in the Florida International University College of Law, College of Education, College of Business Administration, and more. Notable alumni of FIU include actor Danny Pino, who has appeared in television shows including The Shield and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Florida International University (FIU) is a multi-campus public research university offering a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The university has two main campuses, the 344-acre Modesto A. Maidique campus in western Miami-Dade County, and the 200-acre Biscayne Bay Campus in northeast Miami-Dade County.

FIU offers more than 180 baccalaureate, masters, professional and research doctorate programs and conducts basic and applied research. Interdisciplinary centers and institutes conduct collaborative research to seek innovative solutions to economic, technological, and social problems. With more than 44,000 students, 891 full-time instructional faculty, and over 8,000 degrees awarded annually, FIU is the largest university in South Florida.

During the past decade FIU has added two major professional schools - a law school and a medical school - and expanded enrollment by 28 percent. In the next five years we will continue to provide a full range of degree programs for regional, national, and international students. During this period, we plan to increase enrollment by 25 percent and research expenditures by 36 percent. These striking increases will require us to rethink every aspect of our academic enterprise: our approaches to teaching, learning, and research; our student support services; and the size and configuration of our physical and technological infrastructure.

FIU is dynamic. We have a can-do spirit that you'll feel on our campuses. That vibrancy is reflected in the campus' modern architecture and the energy of our students. Known as the 'living room' of campus, the Graham Center at MMC has over 303,000 sq. ft. of space for social, cultural, recreational and educational programs. This space, along with the Wolfe University Center at the Biscayne Bay Campus, showcases our diverse climate. Some things you might see: 1. Greeks organizing rush activities and fundraisers, 2. Student organizations presenting speakers and membership drives, 3. Student Government elections, 3. Comedians, dances, lectures, and movies presented by the Student Programming Council, 4. Volunteers being recruited by the Center for Leadership and Service as well as workshops and enrichment classes.

The Recreation Center at MMC brings students, faculty, staff, and alumni together. It houses cardio equipment, basketball courts, free weights and fitness classes. You can also take a dip in the Panther Hall Pool, at the center of Residence Hall Quad. Our Biscayne Bay Campus has a great Aquatic Center. The BBC location right on the bay makes it a perfect place to enjoy the beautiful Florida climate.

Love sports? FIU's intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, the Nation's most competitive college sports division, the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA.

General Information

School type public, coed college
Year founded 1965
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $153,110,283

Applying

When applying to Florida International University, it's important to note the application deadline is May 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due August 31. The application fee at Florida International University is $30. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 39.5 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 40%
Application deadline May 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by August 31

More About Applying

Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Florida International University is 28:1, and the school has 23.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Florida International University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Psychology; Social Sciences; and Education. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 81.0 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 28:1
4-year graduation rate 19% - Low
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 34%
Health Professions and Related Programs 9%
Psychology 8%
Social Sciences 7%
Education 5%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Florida International University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,786, with a gender distribution of 44.9 percent male students and 55.1 percent female students. 8.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 92.0 percent of students live off campus. Florida International University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Florida International University.

Total enrollment 42,287
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority N/A
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

More About Student Life

Campus Info & Services

Florida International University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, and health service. Florida International University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Florida International University, 75 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Florida International University.

Students who have cars on campus 75% - Medium
Health insurance offered No
Students required to own/lease a computer No

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Florida International University, 66.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,901.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees $4,431 (2010-11)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $16,830 (2010-11)
Room and board $11,330 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

More About Paying for School

Student Reviews

Personally for me FIU is close to home which is really good. As for the size of the school I think its small for the amount of students there is, but yes its a gorgeous campus. When I tell people that I go to FIU, most people react normal, I mean in Miami FIU and UM are like the only majors universities so not much to react for. I spend most of my time on campus especially since I have join Alpha Kappa Psi and ASB. I think that the FIU administration is not doing is job the right or efficient way, especially the financial aid office as well as the registrar office, I mean they seem to always take forever to get things done. The biggest recent controversy on campus has been the budget cuts. That money is really important especially now that we are entering summer, and like most know, most students do not get any type of financial aid before, and perhaps those that did won't get it. I feel that there is not much school pride as there should especially because a lot of students are commuter students and not much these students can participate in; since most work and just come to campus to take the classes and leave. If i can name one thing that I would change it would be parking: its horrible.

Angelica Junior

FIU is different from many other choices within the Florida State University System, because it is located in a metropolitan area rather than a "college town." The school also has a more modern feel since the buildings were recently constructed as opposed to the stereotypical campus style of brick buildings. The reaction I often get when I tell people that I go to FIU is "Why?" presumably because other Florida schools have more of a historical representation, but these people are often not aware of FIU's growth an expansion, including new medical and law schools. FIU's administration, like any bureaucracy, has its flaws. It is a typical college complaint, but athletics are put above academics in many instances. While this does have the opportunity to pay off for universities since athletics generates revenue, with the record of the Golden Panthers football team, it is sucking more money than it is bringing in. Especially with the recent budget cuts, many programs and services are suffering at the university, and it's hard to say that out of order priorities are not to blame. Yet, all that aside, FIU is a fine and diverse learning institution with positive aspects not well known to the general public.

Eric Freshman

It is a good school. I enjoy the "realness" of the people that go there, however, it is rather large. The classrooms fit the class sizes, but the parking lot does not. I spend most of my time in class, not around campus. South Florida as a whole does not represent a college town. It's too big a city for that. The administration hasn't done much that has impacted me to have an opinion on, and there has been no controversy, as far as I know. There is not much school pride outside of incoming freshmen, but hopefully with each new wave of students coming in that'll change. Not much unusual about FIU, best experience was Jack's Mannequin in the Pharmed Arena. Most complaints are about the parking situation and final exam scheduling.

Max Senior

More student reviews

* Overview details based on 2010 data

U.S. News College Compass - My Fit

Find out how this school measures up based on your preferences.

Sign Up Now!

Calculating this school's fit to see if it meets your personal preferences.

Save this school

Edit your preferences

Find out how this school measures up based on your preferences.

Save this school

Edit your preferences

Advertisement
U.S. News College Compass

Expanded Profiles for 1,600 Schools

SAT Scores and GPAs

Comprehensive Financial Aid Info

College Search
Within miles of Advanced Search
Parent Question-of-the-Day
What will be your primary resource to help pay for college?
[ View Results ]
Knowledge Centers

Looking at colleges? Find out what you need to know.

Studying in the United States
Finding the Right School
Paying for College
Applying to College